Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

When Daniel was in the midst of the lion's den ... God was with him. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the midst of the fiery furnace ... God was with them. It would have been perfectly easy for God to immediately transport these saints out of their difficulties, but no, He chose instead to be with them in the midst of their trials. God chose to reveal His power throughthe trials instead of exercising His power to remove them.

Trials and difficulties are simply a part of life and quite honestly, the longer I walk with the Lord the bigger these trials become. But how do we react when our faith is challenged by these adversities? James 1:2 says to count it all joy! What could possibly be joyful about difficult situations? Painful, yes...but joy??

Yet, somehow, I do find joy in knowing, and even sensing that God is with mein the midst of my problems -- in the midst of my trials. He did promise never to leave or forsake me; and as I look over my life, I find it to be absolutely true...no matter what crazy situation I'm in, God is with me.

%%First Name%%, we all have this decision: either to complain because of the trials we're enduring...or to prayerfully lift our souls before him (Psalm 25:1) ...and rejoice in the midst of our troubles -- knowing, believing, and even feeling, that God is with us, now ... always ... all the way!

Today's Breaking NewsAround the WorldIran to Build Two More Nuclear Plants - Washington Free Beacon
Iranian officials announced the upcoming construction of two new nuclear plants on Saturday, just hours before the United States and Western nations signed a nuclear pact that will allow Iran to continue enriching uranium, the key component in a nuclear weapon.Kerry defends Iran deal: 'It's not a question of trust' - Washington Times
The Obama administration put on a full-court press Sunday to defend the deal the U.S. and key allies struck to try to halt Iran's burgeoning nuclear program -- but the White House faces a tough sell with members of Congress who criticized the terms and said they'll still press for even tighter sanctions on the Islamic republic.Saudi prince to Iran: We won't sit idly by - Times of Israel
In an acerbic interview shortly before the Geneva interim deal was signed, a senior Saudi diplomat issued a rare direct threat to Iran, warning that "all options are available" should the international community fail to rein in Iran's alleged drive to acquire nuclear weapons.Syria: Clashes to break siege kill over 160 in 48 hours - Times of Israel
Heavy clashes between Syrian troops and rebels trying to break a government siege in the suburbs of Damascus have killed at least 160 fighters over two days, activists said Sunday.US hails accord with Iran as 'good deal' - Jerusalem Post
Hard negotiations in Geneva over Iran's nuclear program produced just the interim deal sought by US President Barack Obama: A six-month freeze to a crisis that threatened to dominate the rest of his presidency.Secret direct US-Iran talks preceded deal in Geneva - Jerusalem Post
A series of private, bilateral meetings between US and Iranian officials preceded public rapprochement between the two nations, Obama administration officials acknowledged on Saturday night.

Inside the United StatesSticker shock hits health exchange shoppers - USA Today
Sweeping differences in health care exchange pricing among states and counties is leading to sticker shock for some middle-class consumers and others who aren't eligible for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.Price of Electricity Hit Record for October; Up 42% in Decade - CNS News
The price of electricity hit a record for the month of October, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That made October the eleventh straight month when the average price of electricity hit or matched the record level for that month.U.S. generals now take action to watch Obama - WND
After one of them called for the "forced resignations" of President Obama and congressional leaders in response to multiple grievances, including the alleged political purge of hundreds of senior military officers, two retired U.S. generals are creating a citizens' commission to scrutinize Obama administration actions on national security and economic issues.N.S.A. Report Outlined Goals for More Power - NY Times
Officials at the National Security Agency, intent on maintaining its dominance in intelligence collection, pledged last year to push to expand its surveillance powers, according to a top-secret strategy document.US banks warn Fed interest cut could force them to charge depositors - Financial Times
Leading US banks have warned that they could start charging companies and consumers for deposits if the US Federal Reserve cuts the interest it pays on bank reserves.

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